Storytelling (2002)

Storytelling (2002)

Storytelling follows two separate, unrelated stories of the angst, frustration, depression of the youth of today against two backdrops. In “Fiction”, Vi is a hip college teenager who allows herself to be exploited and abused by any guy, including her writing professor, in order to get inspiration for her creative writing class.

In “Non-fiction”, Toby Oxman is a hapless loser/shoe salesman who wants to be a famous documentary filmmaker. For his first project, Toby explores the dysfunctional Livingston family, focusing mostly on the oldest son Scooby, an alienated, hates-the-world, ticking-time-bomb, bisexual, high school student with dreams of being famous.

Storytelling is a 2001 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Todd Solondz. It features original music by Belle & Sebastian, later compiled on an album of the same name. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.

Storytelling (2002) - Selma Blair

About the Story

The film consists of two stories that are unrelated and have different actors, titled “Fiction” and “Non-Fiction”. College and high school serve as the backdrop for these two stories about dysfunction and personal turmoil.

Fiction

“Fiction”, starring Selma Blair, is about a group of college students in a creative writing class taught by a professor (Robert Wisdom), who has affairs with his students.

Non-Fiction

“Non-Fiction”, starring Paul Giamatti and John Goodman, is about the filming of a dysfunctional suburban New Jersey family as their teenage son (Mark Webber) goes through the college application process.

Autobiography

The original version of the film featured a third story entitled “Autobiography”, concerning, among other things, a closeted football player (James van der Beek). The main character has an explicit sex scene with a male partner (Steven Rosen); the entire story was cut from the final version.

Storytelling Movie Poster (2002)

Storytelling (2002)

Directed by: Todd Solondz
Starring: Selma Blair, Leo Fitzpatrick, Robert Wisdom, Maria Thayer, Angela Goethals, Devorah Rose, Nancy Anne Ridder, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Paul Giamatti, Tina Holmes
Screenplay by: Todd Solondz
Production Design by: James Chinlund
Cinematography by: Frederick Elmes
Film Editing by: Alan Oxman
Costume Design by: John Dunn
Set Decoration by: Jennifer Alex Nickason
Art Direction by: Judy Rhee
Music by: Belle & Sebastian, Nathan Larson
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, language and some drug use.
Distributed by: Fine Line Features
Release Date: January 25, 2002

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